Check valve for fluid lifts



July 19, HSMUTH CHECK VALVE FOR FLUID LIFTS Filed Nov. 15, 1950 Fig.3-

F' D WADHSI IUTH Patented July 19 1932 FRED I). WACHSMUTH, OF SANFORD,TEXAS VALVE FOB FLUID LIFTS Application filed November 15, 1930. SerialNo. 495,883.

This invention relates to fluid lifts especially adapted for use infiowin wells and contemplates the employment a pressure fluid such ascompressed air or gas to augment the ,5 natural pressure of the well inbringing about if he ascent of the native well fluid to the surace.

More particularly, the invention contemplates novel means by which thepacker that is located between the producing stratum and the liftingfluid employed to recover the-native well fluid is expanded and set bythe lifting fluid with the result that by cutting ofl. or temporarilyinterrupting the supply of lifting fluid the packer is released and aconvenient change in the position of the same is made possible, allwithout damage to the packer or other parts of the assembly.

Another attribute of the invention resides in the arrangement by whichthe check valve assembly that is located within the flowing conduit andwhich, of course, is employed to prevent retrograde movement of thenative well fluid, may be easily withdrawn to the surface without thenecessity of removing the flowing conduit along with it and which,during removal is held in open position to allow of the passagetherethrou h of such paraflin asmay be encountered, it eing noted inthis connection that the collection of a substantial portion of paraflinabove the check valve as an incident to the removal of the check valvemight bind the check valve and prevent Y the ready removal of the same.

Another object is to provide a flowing device which is of highlysimplified construction, which is reliable in use and which may beemployed without a substantial departure from established producingmethods.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the improvedfluid lift. parts being broken away and the check valve assemo bly beingshown in seated position, Figure 2 is a similar view showing theformation.

A flowing string of pipe or conduit 6 is located within the casing 5 inspaced relation to the inner side wall thereof to cooperate therewith inthe formation of an annular passage by which a pressure or lifting fluidsuch as compressed air or gas may be introduced into the well andbrought into lifting relation to the fluid products of the well.

The flowing device comprises, in part, a tubular body 8 upon which asuitable number of upwardly presented cups 10 are mounted, the lower cupor cups, as the case may be, being confined between followers 12, whilethe upper cup is confined between a jam nut 14 and the uppermostfollower.

As shown in Figure 1, the cups 10 are adapted to establish a fluid tightcontact between the casing 5 and the flowing conduit 6 to set up aneffective barrier between the producing stratum and the pressure fluidlocated above, with the result that the pressure fluid is not allowed tothrottle or interfere with the free admission of the native well fluidinto the shot hole and the inlet to the flowing conduit. Since the cupsare presented upwardly and are exposed to the pressure of the liftingfluid such as compressed air or gas, it is clear that the cups will beexpanded thereby into fluid tight contact so with the wall of the casingto protect the producing stratum below from the restraining influence ofthe lifting fluid; and when the supply of pressure fluid at the surfaceis cut off the ready movement or adjustment of the packing devices 10 ismade possible through movement of the flowing conduit, all withoutdamage to the packing devices.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the packing body 8 has the upper portionthereof externally enlarged and the bevelled shoulder defined by suchenlargement is provided with an annular series of upwardly inclinedports or jets 16 extending entirely therethrough and providing a meansby which the pressure medium such as compressed air or gas may bebrought into lifting relation to the fluid being recovered. By reason ofthe upward inclination of the jets 16 and the fact that the same form aring entirely surrounding the fluid being recovered. a diminishedpressure will prevail within that portion of the body 8 below the jetsand the column 0 fluid being recovered will be very much lightened.

A tubular section or check valve housing 20 is shown to be threaded ontoand suspended from the packing body 8 and is adapted for the receptionof a check valve assembly comprising a check valve body 22 upon which aplurality of upwardly presented cups 24 are mounted. Suitable means suchas followers 26 and a jam nut 28 may be employed to hold the cups inposition on the check valve bodv 22 to leave the outer edge portionsthereof free for fluid tight contact with the wall of the tubularsection 20.

The check valve body is, of course, formed with a fluid passageextending entirely therethrough and is provided at the upper end thereofwith an annular seat for engagement contact of these cups with theby asemispherical valve element 30. During the ascent of the native wellfluid through the check valve body 22 the valve element 30' is, ofcourse, unseated or in theraised position. and when the ascent of thenative well fluid ceases or is interrupted the valve element is seatedto prevent retrograde movement of the fluid above. Obviously, thepressure of the fluid immediately above the cups 24 will aid inestablishing fluid tight surrounding tubular section 20.

The lowermost follower 26 or other part associated with the check valvebody 22 is provided with a plurality of flexible diverging dependingspring arms 32 having the lower portions thereof bevelled inward forentrance into an annular groove defined by an internal annular rib 34located in the lower portion of the housing 20 so that the descent ofthe check valve assembly is limited. In this manner. the seating of thecups or other packing devices 24 at the desired point within the housing20 is assured. The inherent flexibilitv of the arms 32 provides a meansby which the bevelled lower portions of the arms are caused to seat withcertainty in the groove defined bv the upwardly presented rib 34. On theother hand, when it is desired to unseat the check valve assembly nosubstantial resistance is offered by the arms 32.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the valve element 30 is limited inits upward movement with respect to the seat thereof by a dart 38located f ing the removal of the check valve assembl below the valvebody 22 and having connection with the valve element by a stem 40 thatis extended entirely through the valve body. Thus, the connection of alifting device 42 of any nature with the U-shaped bail 44 of the valveelement 30 will provide a means b which the check valve assembly may bewithdrawn to 'the surface with the valve element 30 in open be, andwithout the necessity of removing the flowing conduit. Such anarrangement is highly advantageous in wells where frequent or evenoccasional cleaning of the same is necessary because it avoids thenecessity of removing the flowing conduit, such removal of the flowingconduit being known to be a time consuming task entailin a. considerablelabor costand loss of. r0 uction.

From theforegoing, it is believed to be clear that the introduction of alifting fluid such, for exam le, as compressed air or gas into the spacetween the casing 5 and the fiowin conduit will result'in the passage ofsuch hfting fluid into the flowing conduit and in the ascent of thenative well fluid that has entered the flowing conduit.

The introduction of the pressure fluid into the casing will'bring aboutthe expansion of the cups 10 or other 'acking devices into fluid tightcontact with t e surrounding wall of the casing so that the pressurefluid is prevented from entering the producing stratum and retarding thefree flow of native well fluid into the shot hole of the well. ,So

long as the supply of pressure fluid to the space between/t e casing 5and the flowing conduit is continued the packing devices 10 will remainin fluid tight contact with the casing and when such an ply is cut ofior interruptedthe fluid tig t contact of themembers 10 with the wall ofthe casing is destroyed until such time as the su ply of pressure fluidis renewed. Durin t e time its that the pressure fluid is not supp ed tothe casin it is a simple matter to move the cups or ot er packin devices10 by movement 0 1 tion thatv the same conditions seldom exist intwowells and the location of the inlet means and, in fact, the entirerecovery mechanism, is dictated by the conditions thought to exist inthe well.

It is to be understood that the form of invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken merely as a preferred example of the sameand-that such minor hanges in arrangement and construction of parts maybe made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scopeof what is claimed.

- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a check valve assembly for use in the fluid conduit of a well, atubular body having a valve seat, a valve element to engage said seatand havinga stem extending through the body, a dart carried by said stemand ada ted to engage the lower portion of said body to limit unseatingof said valve element, packing devices on said body to engage thesurrounding fluid conduit, and retaining means for said packing devicesand provided with an annular series of depending anchoring arms toengage the surrounding fluid conduit and being in protecting relation tosaid dart.

2. In a check valve assembly for use in 39 the fluid conduit of a well,a tubular body, a valve element carried by the tubular body, a stemextending through the tubular body and provided with a dart to engagethe lower end of said body to limit unseating of said -valve, and amember carried by said body and bein provided with an annular series ofdepen ing spring arms surrounding said I dart to space the same fromcontact with the fluid conduit and being provided with 4 means todetachably anchor the check valve assembly in place In testimon whereofI afiix my signature.

RED D. WACHSMUTH.

